A mum has told how she felt "humiliated and shamed" - after she was told she could not breastfeed in Pizza Express.

The incident, which happened in Northern Ireland, saw Lisa Wilson told she was unable to feed premature baby Oliver, who is now eight weeks old.

Lisa and her partner Connor Morrison were on their first day trip to Belfast on Wednesday when the incident happened, reports BelfastLive.

The family had travelled from Portstewart, Co Antrim, for the day out and Pizza Express in Victoria Square was their first choice for a lunchtime treat.

Lisa, 28, a make-up artist, said: "We were looking forward to it but turned into a horrible, embarrassing and humiliating situation. We were told there was no breastfeeding in the restaurant like it was a shameful thing to even consider.

"Oliver was three weeks premature and arrived eight weeks ago and is doing well now. The day out in Belfast was a treat for all of us so it was a horrible experience.

"It is a total disgrace in 2017 that a woman is basically turned away from anywhere because she plans to breastfeed her child. It's not even as if I would be on show or making an exhibition of myself. It's a very personal, intimate moment between a mother and her baby and it's a beautiful thing.

Lisa and baby Oliver

"But the manager in Pizza Express in Victoria Square somehow made it feel a bit grubby. I was furious and I'm still upset, not only for Oliver and myself but for any other new mum out there who might not have the sort of support I have."

The refusal to accommodate Lisa and Oliver contravened the nationwide policy held by Pizza Express which states breastfeeding is welcome in all of their restaurants, including Northern Ireland branches.

Lisa's partner Connor, said: "I couldn't understand how in 2017 any restaurant could be so short sighted.

"We were ready for lunch and Oliver was hungry and needed to be fed. We decided on Pizza Express and knowing it claimed to be a family friendly restaurant, we felt they would be more than happy to accommodate us.

"Before we sat down I asked a member of staff if we could have a booth so Lisa could feed Oliver with a bit of privacy and dignity because it's new for both of them and Lisa likes him to be settled before she feeds.

"But the manager said it wasn't possible.

"Then he said, 'You cannot breastfeed in this restaurant.' I was astonished and I felt like making a fuss but I didn't want to upset Lisa any more or upset our son."

"We just left and went straight to Ziggy's which is an Italian restaurant nearby and we asked them for the a booth for the same reason and we were given one right away and they looked after us very well.

"When we realised we were being treated nicely and Lisa was less upset, it was a happy lunch in a place where we felt welcome."

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A spokesperson for PizzaExpress said: "We are so sorry that Mrs Wilson and Mr Morrison had this experience in one of our restaurants. We have a policy which welcomes breastfeeding across all of our restaurants.